Coffs Harbour sand management

Transport for NSW remains committed to maintaining safe, reliable access at the Coffs Harbour Boat Ramp — something we know is vital to the local boating community and economy. Over the past two years, we’ve undertaken a dedicated trial of innovative sand management approaches, ensuring we land on a long-term solution that is both environmentally responsible and cost-effective.

A Successful Trial, Informed by Data

The installation of five underwater jet pumps marked a significant step forward in our approach to managing sand movement. The trial demonstrated the pumps’ ability to shift large volumes of sand rapidly and responsively, and their use has helped us maintain access through periods of significant coastal activity.

In parallel, we’ve undertaken comprehensive environmental and operational monitoring - including hydrographic surveys, wave and tide data, and seabed level analysis - to build a complete picture of how best to manage sand in and around the boat ramp.

This data-driven evaluation, undertaken in collaboration with leading coastal engineers Royal Haskoning DHV, has informed a whole-of-harbour sand management strategy. As a result, we’re evolving our approach to ensure greater flexibility, improved consistency, and long-term sustainability.

What’s Changing and Why

While the sand pumps proved effective during the trial phase, we’re now transitioning to the use of a mobile cutter suction dredge. A more agile and targeted approach method which provides even greater adaptability and reliability — particularly around the more dynamic and variable conditions of the boat ramp area.

We’ll begin the safe removal of the trial pumps from the harbour in July, weather permitting:

• the work will take approximately three weeks
• the boat ramp will remain open, though a small section of the car park will be used during this period
• divers will be in the water, and minor navigation adjustments may be in place — we ask boaters to proceed with care.

Looking Ahead

• a small mobile cutter suction dredge will now be used for regular maintenance of the boat ramp channel and basin
• sand transfer to Gallows Beach will continue, ensuring sand remains in the active coastal system
• a larger dredging project is also being planned for the outer harbour and entrance to further enhance access and safety.

We’re grateful for the community’s continued support and patience as we transition to this refined approach - one that builds on the success of the trial and strengthens our long-term stewardship of the Coffs Harbour coastline.

For more information on this please see our latest community update (PDF, 304.05 KB).

Transport for NSW continues maintenance dredging at the Boat Ramp, despite challenges posed by heavy easterly winds and swells. Adjustments are being made to the sand pumps to ensure sand removal can continue under these tough conditions that influence sand movement. 

The sand pumps have been crucial in allowing us to keep working during difficult weather. 

We are closely monitoring the conditions at the Boat Ramp. Boaters should check conditions and plan trips around low tide, as conditions can change quickly. It’s important to assess the channel before heading out. Please check Maritime’s live webcam vision of the Coffs Harbour entrance and boat ramp, plus weather updates to help you prepare for a safe boat trip.

An update on the Sand Pump trial will be provided later in 2025, as Transport continues to collect data and improve sand management for navigation.

Maintenance dredging commenced on 2 December 2024 to maintain the channel depth at the Coffs Harbour Boat Ramp, running alongside the Sand Pump Operations. The work will continue until 21 December 2024, pausing for the Christmas holiday period. A reassessment of the channel will take place in early January, with progress updates provided in the new year.

The boat ramp will remain open and the dredging will cause minimal disruption to boat ramp use. A cutter suction vessel will be positioned in the channel, and boaters and waterway users are urged to stay clear of the vessel during operations. Skippers should plan trips to avoid low tide and assess conditions before using the channel, as conditions can change rapidly. Boaters are reminded of their responsibility to assess conditions before negotiating any marine channel.

The temporary Gallows sand pipeline installation has been completed allowing sand to be pumped direct to the northern corner of Gallows Beach. 

The pipeline will be monitored, and the community will be kept informed on progress as the trial continues.

In August 2022, as Stage 1 of the boat ramp was nearing completion, sand began massing around the end of the newly extended breakwater and lodging in the boat ramp channel.

While this has been an ongoing issue in Coffs Harbour for decades, it became apparent that sand movement had changed. Sand from the sea and Jetty Beach continued to wash into the channel and build up throughout the passage leading to the boat ramp.

Transport for NSW remains committed to maintaining safe, reliable access at the Coffs Harbour Boat Ramp - something we know is vital to the local boating community and economy. Over the past two years, we’ve undertaken a dedicated trial of innovative sand management approaches, ensuring we land on a long-term solution that is both environmentally responsible and cost-effective.

In November 2022 a Sand Management Plan (PDF, 1.04 MB) was developed that detailed our strategy on how we will manage the sand at the boat ramp.

From March 2023 we started the Sand Pumping System trial with the installation of five underwater jet pumps which marked a significant step forward in our approach to managing sand movement. The trial demonstrated the pumps’ ability to shift large volumes of sand rapidly and responsively, and their use has helped us maintain access through periods of significant coastal activity.

While the sand pumps proved effective during the trial phase, we’re now transitioning to the use of a mobile cutter suction dredge. A more agile and targeted approach method which provides even greater adaptability and reliability - particularly around the more dynamic and variable conditions of the boat ramp area.

• Coffs Harbour Boat Ramp sand management community update - July 2025 (PDF, 304.05 KB)

• Gallows Beach STS Minor Works REF with Appendices - November 2023 (PDF, 13.55 MB)
• Minor works REF addendum memo sand transfer pump - September 2023 (PDF, 883.45 KB)
• Coffs Harbour Dredging and Beach Nourishment MWREF - December 2022 (PDF, 14.41 MB)

• 15 March 2024 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 4.41 MB)
• 4 March 2024 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 3.66 MB)
• 19 October 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 785.76 KB)
• 10 July 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 761.2 KB)
• 5 July 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 4.94 MB)
• 9 May 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 7.26 MB)
• 4 April 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 3.68 MB)
• 3 March 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 6.75 MB)
• 9 January 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 6.51 MB)
• 14 December 2022 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 4.08 MB)
• 1 December 2022 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 8.1 MB)

• Sand management plan (PDF, 1.04 MB)